Ontario Tech University's Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science runs a common first-year model across its engineering programs before students declare a specialization, including Automotive, Electrical, Manufacturing, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Software, and Nuclear Engineering, the last of which is Canada's only undergraduate nuclear engineering program. The Faculty is fully accredited, includes a dedicated Engineering Co-Op program, and runs the HERizon initiative supporting women in engineering. For international students, Ontario Tech's Engineering programs pair a genuinely distinctive specialization list with the Automotive Centre of Excellence's research infrastructure, including a wind tunnel capable of speeds over 240 km/h.
This article covers what it takes to get into Ontario Tech's Engineering programs: acceptance realities, cost, requirements, English-test rules, and career outcomes.
Acceptance Rate
Ontario Tech does not publish an Engineering-specific acceptance rate, and no university-wide acceptance rate is published either. Ontario Tech's general admissions guidance states that "the specific average or standing required for admission varies from year to year" and that selection weighs school marks, subject distribution, and performance in subjects relevant to the intended program, rather than a single fixed cutoff.
Engineering, and Nuclear Engineering in particular given its uniqueness in Canada, likely sits toward the more competitive end of Ontario Tech's program mix, but the university has not published a specific admit-rate figure to confirm this, so treat any exact percentage you see elsewhere as an unverified third-party estimate.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
Ontario Tech publishes Engineering tuition as its own category, distinct from and higher than its general-program and Computer Science rates. The 2026-2027 estimated figures (based on 10 courses per year, or 30 credit hours) are:
| Cost item | Estimated annual amount (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Tuition, international (Engineering, Engineering & Management, and Technology) | $46,561.31 |
| Pre-Engineering pathway (per 3-credit course) | $4,656.13 |
| Ancillary fees | Billed separately; not included in the tuition figure above |
Ontario Tech's registrar notes these fees are "subject to change without notice." At $46,561.31/year, Engineering is Ontario Tech's most expensive undergraduate tuition category, meaningfully above the general-programs rate ($34,148.27) and the Computer Science rate ($37,831.43). Ontario Tech's international student services did not publish a specific total living-cost figure on its main living-expenses page at the time of this research; budget for tuition plus Canada's federal study-permit financial-support requirement (a separate, periodically updated IRCC figure) when planning your total cost.
Admission Requirements
Ontario Tech's Engineering programs follow the university's general international undergraduate admission process, since a program-specific prerequisite course list was not published on the general admissions pages checked for this article:
- Official secondary school (or post-secondary, for transfer applicants) transcripts
- WES (or equivalent) authentication for non-Canadian post-secondary credentials, where required
- Proof of English language proficiency (unless exempt; see below)
- For Early Application Programs, midterm or final marks for prerequisite courses by the program's stated deadline (historically late January)
Ontario Tech's admissions guidance emphasizes that performance in subjects relevant to the program matters more than a flat overall average; for an Engineering applicant, this typically means strength in senior secondary mathematics and physics is weighed heavily, though Ontario Tech did not publish an exact required course list or minimum grade on the pages available for this research. Ontario Tech also offers a Pre-Engineering pathway for students who don't yet meet direct-entry requirements, plus college-to-university transfer options (including a Manufacturing Engineering bridge program) for students transferring from a college credential. Confirm exact prerequisite courses and minimum grades directly with Ontario Tech Admissions (admissions@ontariotechu.ca) before applying.
How to Get Into Ontario Tech's Engineering Programs
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Prioritize strong senior secondary mathematics and physics grades. Ontario Tech's general admissions criteria explicitly weigh performance in subjects relevant to your intended program, and math/physics are the most directly relevant subjects for an Engineering application.
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Confirm the exact prerequisite courses for your curriculum with admissions. Ontario Tech did not publish an Engineering-specific Grade 12 (or equivalent) course list on the pages available for this research, so verify directly rather than assuming a generic prerequisite set applies.
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Consider the Pre-Engineering pathway if you're borderline on direct-entry requirements. Ontario Tech's Pre-Engineering option (billed per 3-credit course) offers a route into the common first-year model for students who don't yet clear direct-entry requirements.
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Decide on your target specialization early, even though first year is common. Because Ontario Tech runs a shared first year across Automotive, Electrical, Manufacturing, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Software, and Nuclear Engineering, understanding each specialization's later-year requirements and career direction (nuclear engineering in particular is a genuinely unique, and likely more competitive, credential) helps you plan course choices even before declaring.
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Clear English proficiency early. Ontario Tech's thresholds (IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 4.5 redesigned scale) are moderate by Canadian standards, so finish this requirement well before your application deadline.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
Ontario Tech's Engineering programs use the university's standard undergraduate English proficiency thresholds; there is no separate, higher bar published for Engineering specifically:
- IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall, no sub-score below 6.0
- TOEFL iBT (redesigned scale): 4.5 overall, no section below 4.0 (institution code 7178)
- PTE Academic: 58
- Duolingo English Test: 120
Waivers apply for IB diploma holders with a minimum grade 4 in IB English A, and for applicants with 3 or more years of full-time study at an English-medium secondary or post-secondary institution.
For the full breakdown of Ontario Tech's English-test policy, waivers, and living-cost caveats, see Ontario Tech University's full admissions guide.
Career Outcomes
Ontario Tech reports that 80% of graduates overall are employed within their field, and the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science runs a dedicated Engineering Co-Op program as part of the university's broader 100+ direct-entry co-op programs and 500+ industry partners for work-integrated learning. Ontario Tech was ranked Canada's #1 undergraduate research university by Research Infosource in 2025, and its Automotive Centre of Excellence provides research infrastructure (including a 240+ km/h wind tunnel) directly relevant to automotive, mechanical, and mechatronics engineering graduates.
PGWP relevance: Ontario Tech's Engineering degrees are full-time bachelor's programs that, under Canada's Post-Graduation Work Permit rules, qualify for a PGWP of up to 3 years for programs of 2 years or more. Per IRCC's own published rules, "there are no field of study requirements for graduates with a bachelor's degree," so an Engineering degree is broadly PGWP-eligible regardless of specialization, unlike many college diploma and non-university programs. Degree graduates must also demonstrate CLB 7 English or French proficiency for PGWP applications submitted on or after November 1, 2024. Confirm current PGWP rules directly with IRCC before relying on this, since federal immigration policy is separate from and can change independently of Ontario Tech's own program structure.
Ontario Tech's official pages did not surface Engineering-specific starting salaries or named employer partners beyond the university-wide 80% field-employment figure, so confirm program-level outcomes directly with the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science if this level of detail matters to your decision.
FAQ
Does Ontario Tech publish an Engineering acceptance rate? No. Ontario Tech does not publish an acceptance rate for Engineering specifically or for the university overall. Admission depends on a competitive review of grades, subject relevance, and English proficiency, with the exact bar varying by year and applicant pool.
How much does Ontario Tech's Engineering program cost for international students? Tuition is $46,561.31 CAD/year for 2026-2027 (subject to change), Ontario Tech's highest undergraduate tuition category, not including ancillary fees or living costs.
What specializations are available within Ontario Tech's Engineering programs? Automotive, Electrical, Manufacturing, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Software, and Nuclear Engineering, plus a Comprehensive Engineering option, all built on a common first-year curriculum before specialization.
What Grade 12 courses do I need for Ontario Tech Engineering? Ontario Tech's general admissions pages emphasize strong performance in subjects relevant to your program (mathematics and physics, for Engineering) but did not publish an exact required course list on the pages checked for this article. Confirm directly with Ontario Tech Admissions for your specific curriculum. A Pre-Engineering pathway exists for students who don't yet meet direct-entry requirements.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need for Ontario Tech's Engineering programs? IELTS 6.5 overall (no sub-score below 6.0), or TOEFL iBT 4.5 overall (redesigned scale, no section below 4.0). PTE 58 and Duolingo 120 are also accepted.
Is Ontario Tech's Engineering degree eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit? Yes. As a full-time bachelor's degree program of 2 years or more, it qualifies for a PGWP of up to 3 years, Canada's maximum permit length, with no field-of-study restriction on university degree programs. You will need to meet a CLB 7 English/French language requirement if applying on or after November 1, 2024.